Original subtitles

( Horn honking )

I'm Alex Mack.

I was just an average kid

until an accident changed my life.

And since then...

Nothing's been the same.

( Zapping )

My best friend Ray thinks it's cool.

My sister Annie thinks I'm a science project.

I can't let anyone else know.

Not even my parents.

I know the Chemical Plant wants to find me

and turn me into some experiment.

But you know something?

I guess I'm not so average anymore.

I'm a loser.

Yeah, me, too.

Why are you a loser?

My art teacher, Ms. Tate

says when we paint, we should paint with our hearts.

She says we should open up our hearts

and find our inspirations within.

And you don't have an inspired heart?

To be honest with you, Alex

I have art class right before lunch.

And I'm less interested in my heart

and more concerned about my stomach.

Ever wonder why they're called "starving artists"?

What about you?

Biology.

We have to dissect a frog on Monday.

You got to pin down their arms and cut right up.

What?

I don't need details

when my mouth is full of tuna salad.

Sorry. So, you got to dissect a frog?

Not just any frog, Ray.

We're going to dissect Willy.

The frog we've had in the terrarium all year?

How do you know?

He's the only one in there.

I'd say he's a pretty likely candidate.

I can't believe they'd do that to good old Willy.

I know, it's not fair.

But science marches forth.

And if the sacrifice

of one small frog will aid in the education

of future scientists...

Ray, I'm not a future scientist.

I hate science.

Well, maybe so.

There's nothing you could do about it anyway.

( Frog croaks )

Is this part of your new plan?

Yes, it is, Miss Atron.

This is the PVP 9000 security droid.

And what did this cost me?

Actually, it should pay for itself in just a few hours.

This little droid

will effectively replace our entire night security staff.

This little thing?

This little thing is a marvel of miniaturization.

There is more computing power in here

than NASA had when it launched the first space shuttle.

This little thing

is capable of high-speed pursuit.

It can chase an intruder

and make an arrest

using a high-powered taser beam.

It can make an arrest?

Absolutely.

It uses a high-voltage bolt of electricity

to momentarily incapacitate the intruder.

( Zapping )

A normal human being would have found that quite uncomfortable.

So, I can fire the entire night security staff?

Yes, well, all...

Except for me.

I have to stay here and supervise the droid.

Oh, of course.

So what does this robot have in common with our GC-161 kid?

That is the coup de grace of my little plan.

It's based on a little trick

I picked up when I was a Navy seal.

It preys on the conscience.

Go on.

All it takes to initiate the plan

is one quick phone call.

Local?

Local.

I leak the story to the school

that we have taken a contaminated kid into custody

and we're going to perform some rather unpleasant experiments.

Now, if the real contaminated kid has a conscience

he will not be able to let an innocent take the heat.

I guarantee you that it will bring that kid out of hiding

and right into our hands.

Hmm.

Well, what makes this better

than all the other high-tech toys

that you've tried so far?

It's quicker, it's more intuitive

it's more powerful than any normal security guard

and not even a genetically altered intruder

can escape the PVP 9000 security droid.

It sounds too simple.

Miss Atron, the best plans always are.

Okay, Vince, but I just have one thing to say.

This better work.

It will work.

( Beeping )

It will work.

( Beeping )

Zero to bravo four, ready for instructions.

So, uh, tiger?

The Plant finally caught the kid

that was contaminated by that accident.

I understand they're going to do

some pretty nasty experiments.

Uh, tissue samples, electrodes

brain waves, blood tests.

You've got to be quarantined

in a hyperbaric chamber

for nine months.

Have you ever been in a hyperbaric chamber?

It's no fun.

Pressure constantly on your skull.

Ears popping all the time.

( No audio )

Still bummed about the frog?

Yes, I'm still bummed about the frog.

Alex, if it wasn't for people dissecting frogs and things

there wouldn't be medicine or science.

Since when did you become

a defender of amphibian killing?

It's not actually killing.

The frog's already dead before you start to cut it up.

Oh, that makes me feel much better

about ripping open its chest

and tearing out its intestines.

You do paint an ugly picture.

I mean, do we have to dissect Willy?

They let us bond with a little frog all semester

and now we have to take a scalpel to him?

They are playing with your emotions

I agree with you.

So you're not going to bring him back to school?

Bring who back?

( Frog croaks )

Never mind.

Louis: Guys, did you hear?

The Plant captured that contaminated kid.

Alex: There's no contaminated kid, that's just a rumor.

Louis: Alex, I know that the kid is Beth Gaskin

who told you this?

Amy Sullivan

who heard it from Tate Webb

who heard it from Donnie Oxendine

who heard it from Dede Boyce

who heard it from Chester the janitor

all very reliable sources.

Louis, you're too gullible.

Beth was kind of weird to begin with.

She's amazingly smart, maybe even smarter than me.

And she was conspicuously absent today.

She was sneezing yesterday.

Maybe it's a cold.

That's what they want you to think

but I went by her place.

No one's there.

The Plant probably paid them to leave.

Louis, that's ridiculous.

I don't think so.

My sources say Beth is locked up

in the lab's hyperbaric quarantine chamber.

Electrodes are attached to her brain

and they're taking tissue samples.

Tissue samples?

It could take six months to complete the testing.

( Frog croaks )

Did I just hear a frog in your backpack?

Louis, some day you're going to get yourself into trouble

with these wild stories.

I'm going home to make some calls.

I've got a lot more people to tell.

Wait.

Wait.

Ray, what if he's right?

What if Beth is in there

getting electroded and tissue sampled

all because of me.

I could never live with that much guilt.

It wouldn't be your fault.

Maybe I have to turn myself in.

If I don't confess, it will be my fault.

Wait, wait, wait.

Yesterday, I was over on Palm Street

and I saw a Chemical Plant truck.

I think that's in Beth's neighborhood.

See?

I can ask my dad about it, he'll know what's going on.

Yeah.

Bye.

( Door opens and closes )

Alex, how was your day at school?

Just a regular, normal day.

Did anything unusual happen today at work?

Unusual?

Well, let's see.

I got locked in the office supply closet again

but Roy small came along and fixed the lock

so it won't happen again.

So nothing really unusual happened?

Well, no, I guess not.

Nothing really unusual.

Dad, remember about a year ago

when the Plant spilled that chemical on some kid?

That was just a rumor, Alex.

There was no chemical spill.

Danielle Atron herself assured me of that.

Let's pretend that it did happen

and they found the kid that it got spilled on.

It would never happen, Alex.

Just pretend.

Okay, it wouldn't be much fun for the kid

I can tell you that.

What would happen?

Well, okay, for the sake of argument

if there was such a contaminated kid

he or she would probably be quarantined.

Quarantined?

Isolation in the Plant's main lab.

They have a hyperbaric quarantine chamber

where they would do extensive research.

Would they use electrodes?

They might.

Would they take tissue samples?

That's a distinct possibility, yeah.

George, I think we might give Alex some nightmares.

It's just science, Mom.

Science always gives me nightmares.

So, Alex, if this GC-161- contaminated kid existed

hopefully he would be smart enough to come forward.

But like I said, it's only a rumor.

Hi, sweetie.

Hi, Mom.

Something smells good in the kitchen.

It's cabbage.

Alex, why the sudden interest

in chemical reactions?

Oh, I'm just curious.

I'm an inquisitive kid with a need to know

or maybe it's just a phase.

I hope not.

( Door closes )

Louis Driscoll told you that the Plant has some kid

that they think is contaminated

and you instantly believed him?

Dad said the same stuff.

Dad doesn't know everything.

It's probably a rumor.

I don't think so.

I wouldn't put anything past the Plant

but even if they have some kid

it's got nothing to do with you.

What if it takes six months to find out

Beth is the wrong kid?

Six months in a hyperactive canteen chamber

with electrons and tissue samples and stuff?

You can't believe every crazy story you hear.

The facts point to one thing

and Ray and I are going in the Plant tonight to get Beth.

You got poor Ray in on this, too?

He doesn't know it yet.

But he's my best friend, I'm sure he'll help me.

Alex, if you go snooping around the Plant

they'll catch you.

Might even be a trap.

Okay, never mind.

I won't do it.

Forget it.

Just like that?

You're going to listen to reason?

Yes, Annie, I'm going to listen to reason.

I'll forget the whole idea.

( Frog croaks )

Alex, do you have a frog in your backpack?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do have a frog in my backpack.

( Door closes )

Maybe Annie was right.

Maybe there is no kid and this is a trap.

Raymond, sometimes you have to forget science and logic

and follow your heart.

If Beth is in there, I have to get her out.

I'd feel terrible if we didn't break her out.

Al...

be careful in there.

Will do.

Mr. Mack: Barbara...

Just because I can

calculate genetic code in my head

doesn't mean I can program the V.C.R.

Annie...

I don't do V.C.R.S.

It's too complicated.

The salesman promised it was easy.

He said a child could do it.

Where's Alex?

She went out a while ago.

She left?

Yeah, with Raymond.

She went to go see a friend of hers.

I think her name was Beth.

I think I've solved the problem.

Oh, great.

What do we need to do?

We need to go out to the theater

and see a movie.

Oh!

Uh-oh.

( Liquid bubbling )

( Door clanks, hissing )

Beth, you in here?

( Hissing, door slams )

Mechanical voice: Search mode activated.

( Liquid bubbling )

Search mode in progress.

Search mode in progress.

Search mode in progress.

Activate all alarms.

Intruder alert.

Switching to pursuit and arrest mode.

Bingo!

( Alarm honking )

( Phone autodialing, ringing )

Hello, Danielle?

Vince here.

I believe I remember telling you

how efficient this plan was?

At this very moment, I have a suspect in custody.

Well, thanks to the PVP 9000 security droid.

I have the absolute, utmost confidence

that the droid has subdued the intruder.

No, there is absolutely no possibility of escape.

Halt, intruder.

You are under arrest.

You are under arrest.

Search mode in progress.

Halt, intruder.

This is your final chance to submit. No false moves.

( Zapping )

Halt, intruder, you are under arrest.

( Zapping )

( Zapping and exploding )

Hey, you, get back here!

Uh, Miss Atron, can I call you back? Thanks.

( Sharp, irritating noise in headphones )

( Yelling and moaning )

( Turns off noise )

You called me in here at this hour

to look at your broken robot?

Miss Atron, this type of mishap is normal

in the prototype stage of any innovative technology.

I assure you...

I assure you

that your job is in serious jeopardy.

The security computer recorded one intruder.

That was our kid, Vince

and once again, we have no photographic record.

Once again, no arrest was made, because you assured me

that I could do without my entire security force.

I, um, I know that...

I let you fire them.

The best security force in the country

and I let you fire them

because I trusted you and your little friend.

Yes, Miss Atron.

I admit that letting the staff go

might have been a bit hasty.

But once we fix the security droid...

I'm not paying for you to have your toy fixed, Vince.

Get on that phone of yours and call up

each and every one of those men you fired

and you apologize.

Apologize?

Yes. A deep, Sincere apology

from the bottom of your heart.

I just hope you can beg them to come back for the same salary.

Miss Atron, I might have been

a little too abrupt with those men.

I don't even think they're going to want to speak to me.

I don't care.

Those men are more important to me

than you are.

This has been one disaster after the other.

I am extremely disappointed

in your work.

What are you saying, Miss Atron?

I'll let you know when I figure it out.

Yes, Miss Atron.

I'll try and...

Thanks, Ray.

Sorry I wasted our time.

I should have known not to trust a rumor

out of the mouth of Louis Driscoll.

It's cool, Al.

We did the right thing.

Night, Ray.

See you tomorrow.

Hi, Annie.

Hey.

Hey, what are you doing here?

Waiting for you. Where have you been?

Got to admit something, Annie.

Despite what you said, I went into the Plant.

They didn't have any kid.

I told you.

Anyway, Louis called.

Said to forget about the Beth Gaskin thing.

She went out of town with her family.

Well, I'm glad I investigated it.

And I even got in and out all by myself.

With Ray's help, of course.

( Frog croaking )

Um, I think you have something

that belongs to me.

I found it upstairs.

Is this is a frog from school?

Yes, Annie, it's a frog from school

and I'm letting it go.

I don't care if it isn't scientific

or if it's not going to change anything.

This is one lucky frog.

That's good enough for now.

You wouldn't understand.

Actually... when I was your age

I liberated a whole bowl of planarians from the science lab.

I dumped them in the river

and I just watched them swim away.

Planarians?

Flatworms.

They looked at me with these big, sad eyes

and I just had to do it.

So, I guess you understand.

Of course I understand, Alex.

I have a heart, too.

I'm glad you can see things

my way once in a while.

I'm glad I can, too.

Later, Willy.

( Frog croaks )

Go on, go in the back.

( Chuckles )

Come on.

Captioned by Grant Brown